Raghuvaran

Raghuvaran Velayutham (11 December 1958 – 19 March 2008) was an Indian actor who predominantly acted in films made in South India. He has acted in more than 200 Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films.According to the Hindustan Times, "The actor had carved a niche for himself with his special style and voice modulation."[1]

Raghuvaran
Born
Raghuvaran Velayutham

(1958-12-11)11 December 1958
Kollengode, Kerala, India
Died19 March 2008(2008-03-19) (aged 49)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityIndian
OccupationFilm actor
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1996; div. 2004)​
ChildrenRishivaran (b.1998)
Parent(s)Velayutham Nair
Kasthuri
RelativesArjun Das (nephew) Prathaphan Sivakumar

He played the protagonist of a Tamil soap opera, Oru Manidhanin Kadhai, about a well-to-do man who becomes an alcoholic. He received critical acclaim for his role as Father Alphonso in the Malayalam movie Daivathinte Vikruthikal, directed by Lenin Rajendran and based on M. Mukundan's novel of the same name.

Raghuvaran's 6 songs, composed and sung by him, was officially released by actor Rajinikanth and the music album was received by actress Rohini and Raghuvaran's son Rishi Varan.[2]

Personal life

He was born as the eldest among four children in 1958[1] at Kollengode in Palakkad district in Kerala. He was the grandson of Mr. N. Radhakrishnan Nair and son of Chunkamannathu N. R. Velayutham Nair and Kasthuri Chakkungal.[3] When his father moved his hotel business from Mathur to Coimbatore, the family shifted to Coimbatore. He had his primary education from St. Ann's Matric. Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore. He also learned piano from Trinity College London.[3]

He discontinued his Bachelor of Arts in History from Coimbatore (Govt. Arts College) to pursue a career in acting.[4] He landed a minor role in the Kannada film Swapna Thingalgal. He began acting in minor roles in Telugu and Kannada films.

From 1979 to 1983, he was part of an acting drama troupe in Chennai, "Chennai Kings", which also included the Kannada/Tamil actor, Nassar. He was spotted and cast as the lead actor in Ezhavathu Manithan, which was his biggest role to date.

He married Rohini in 1996 and their son Rishi Varan was born in 1998. The couple later separated and divorced in 2004.[1]

Career

Following his beginnings on the stage, and a diploma in acting from M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute in Chennai, Raghuvaran approached many Kollywood studios aiming for performance oriented roles and finally got selected as hero. The offbeat film named Ezhavathu Manithan (Seventh Man),[5] directed by Hariharan won many awards, but not many offers for him. A few more films followed with him as hero, like Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu and Nee Thodumbothu released, but didn't become huge successes. But the villain role in Silk Silk Silk was noticed and the film's success opened the gate of offers for him. The villain act continued in films like Kutravaaligal, Mr. Bharath, Mandhira Punnagai and Oorkavalan. He appeared as hero as well as supporting actor in between releases as well. The major ones are Mudivalla Arambam and Samsaram Adhu Minsaram.

In a leading role

In the mid 1980s, Raghuvaran did many films as hero and most of them did good business as well. The films Michael Raj, Megam Karuththirukku, Kootu Puzhukkal and Kavithai Paada Neramillai helped to stabilize his career. The lawyer in Kaliyugam, the police officer in Thaimel Aanai, the rowdy with a golden heart in Kai Naattu, the honest Medical student turned Goonda in Kuttravali and the common man in En Vazhi Thani Vazhi helped Raghuvaran's market value as hero to reach greater heights. But his desire to try all types of roles, like supporting actor as well as villain simultaneously halted the progress as hero, even though he played hero roles in Vyooham, Kavacham and Anjali later. His supporting roles in Annanagar Mudhal Theru and Siva were well received too.[6]

Experimentation

Raghuvaran was pitted against Dilip Kumar in his Bollywood debut Izzatdaar and his popularity further soared at the national level with Ram Gopal Varma' s gangster flick Shiva, where he played the dreaded gangster Bhawani. Other Bollywood films include Rakshak opposite Sunil Shetty (1996), Lal Baadshah opposite Amitabh Bachchan (1999), Hitler opposite Mithun Chakraborty (1998) and Grahan along with Jackie Shroff, where he replaced a busy Nana Patekar in 2001.

In a career span lasting for more than 26 years, Raghuvaran performed each role with his trademark mannerisms, often stealing the thunder from more established stars and even heroes. His magnetic baritone voice was an advantage and he modulated it to suit his variety of roles. He also set his own style of mannerisms and brought a distinct dialogue delivery and even changed his gait in many films. All this dedication won him more fans and helped his popularity soar ever higher.

He has received several state and Filmfare Awards for his performances in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. He began his career as a supporting actor in a number of films in Tamil including Mani Rathnam's Anjali as the father of an autistic child. He later played villains in Baasha as Mark Anthony, Mudhalvan as Aranganathan (corrupt Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu), Shiva and Muthu as Ilaimaran. He later returned to supporting roles – sometimes as a father or as a mentor in films such as Alai, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Thirumalai and Bala.[7]

Death

Raghuvaran died on 19 March 2008.[1] The cause of death was due to organ failure because of excessive alcohol consumption.[8] His death occurred during the filming stages of several films, including Kanthaswamy (2009),wherein Raghuvaran's portions were reshot with Ashish Vidyarthi, which resulted in the film's delayed release.Also , Yaaradi Nee Mohini(2009) continued filming with the story being changed to him dying in the movie too. His posthumous film, Aatadista, released shortly after his death.

Filmography

1982–89
YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
1982KakkaMalayalamAnti Hero
Ezhavathu ManithanAnandTamilHero
Marumagale VazhgaDr. SaravananTamilSupporting
1983Oru Odai NadhiyagirathuTamilHero
RugmaMalayalamSupporting
Vasanthame Varuga Suriyanarayanan Tamil Supporting
Silk Silk SilkTamilVillain
1984Nee ThodumbothuTamilHero
Mudivalla ArambamTamilHero
1985KutravaaligalTamilVillain
Engirunthalum VazhgaTamilHero
1986Mr. BharathMichaelTamilVillain
Samsaram Adhu MinsaramChidamabaramTamilSupporting
Meendum PallaviTamilHero
Mandhira PunnagaiDaniel MirandaTamilVillain
1987Poovizhi VasalileAnandTamilVillain
Makkal En PakkamTamilSupporting
Michael RajTamilHero
Pasivadi PranamVenuTeluguVillain
Megam KaruththirukkuTamilSupporting
Nyayaniki SankelluTeluguVillain
Kootu PuzhukkalTamilHero
Kavithai Paada NeramillaiTamilHero
OorkavalanRajaduraiTamilVillain
ManithanTamilVillain
Ivargal Varungala ThoongalTamilSupporting
Arul Tharum AyyappanTamilSupporting
1988En Bommukutty AmmavukkuAlexTamilSupporting
KaliyugamTamilHero
Thaimel AanaiVinodTamilHero
Kai NaattuTamilHero
KuttravaliTamilHero
Koil Mani OsaiTamilVillain
Irandil OndruTamilVillain
En Vazhi Thani VazhiTamilHero
Annanagar Mudhal TheruTamilSupporting
Kanchana SeetaTeluguSupporting
1989SivaJohnTamilSupporting
RudranetraBlack CobraTeluguVillain
LankeshwaruduTeluguVillain
Rettai Kuzhal ThuppakiTamilVillain
Raja Chinna RojaRaghuTamilVillain
ShivaBhavaniTeluguVillain
Idhu Unga KudumbamTamilHero
DhanushkodiMalayalamSupporting

1990–99
YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
1990VyoohamTony LeousMalayalamHero
Puriyaadha PudhirChakravarthiTamilVillain
IzzatdaarIndrajeet SabharwalHindiVillain
AnjaliShekarTamilHero
ThiyaguTamilHero
ShivaBhavaniHindiVillain
Pagalil PournamiTamilVillain
1991ChaitanyaRaanaTeluguVillain
Pudhiya RaagamRaghuramanTamilVillain
Daivathinte VikrithikalAlphonsoMalayalamHero
Kizhakkan PathroseMalayalamVillain
1992LathiDawoodTeluguSupporting
KavachamRaviMalayalamHero
Soorya ManasamMalayalamVillain
AsadhyuluDr. PratapTeluguSupporting
UyarnthavanTamilSupporting
1993Addeham Enna IddehamMalayalamVillain
Konjum KiliTamilSupporting
Dhool ParakuthuTamilHero
1994PaasamalargalTamilSupporting
KadhalanMallikarjunaTamilVillain
1995BaashhaMark AntonyTamilVillain
Peter ScottLeo FernandesMalayalamSupporting
Manathile Oru PaattuJamesTamilGuest appearance
Supporting
MaanthrikamAbdul RahimanMalayalamSupporting
WitnessTamilSupporting
MounamMr. XTeluguVillain
KolangalBairavanTamilVillain
MuthuDevanTamilVillain
Thotta ChinungiGopalTamilHero
1996Anaganaga Oka RojuTeluguSupporting
RakshakRaghuHindiVillain
Circle InspectorKannadaVillain
SelvaVaratharajanTamilVillain
Take It Easy UrvashiJayaTamilVillain
1997ArunachalamVishwanathTamilVillain
Love TodayChandrasekarTamilSupporting
UllaasamG. K.TamilSupporting
KalavidaKannadaVillain
AbhimanyuMaasilamaniTamilVillain
Nerukku NerRaghuTamilSupporting
Aahaa..!RaghuTamilSupporting
RatchaganEaswarTamilVillain
1998Aahaa..!RaghuramTeluguSupporting
SuswagathamDr. Chandra ShekarTeluguSupporting
Jai HindKannadaVillain
GovernmentKannadaVillain
Thulli Thirintha KaalamChidambaramTamilSupporting
HitlerHindiVillain
IniyavaleRamanathanTamilSupporting
PoonthottamPanneerselvamTamilVillain
Nilaave VaaSivaTamilSupporting
1999Suriya PaarvaiJayanthTamilVillain
En Swasa KaatrePaneerTamilSupporting
Endrendrum KadhalShekarTamilSupporting
Lal BaadshahVikram SinghHindiVillain
OruvanKrishna PrasadTamilVillain
AmarkalamTulasi DasTamilSupporting
Anaganaga Oka AmmayiBhavani PrasadTeluguSupporting
Pooparika VarugiromRanganathanTamilSupporting
MudhalvanAranganathanTamilVillain
Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Villain
IraniyanAandeTamilVillain
PrathyarthaRakeshKannadaVillain

2000–09
YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
2000Kannukkul NilavuDr.RajasekharTamilSupporting
Good LuckChandra MohanTamilSupporting
SudhandhiramRaghuTamilSupporting
MugavareeShivaTamilSupporting
VallarasuDGP JaganathanTamilSupporting
Kandukondain KandukondainSowmya's BossTamilSupporting
Pelli SambandhamTeluguSupporting
Parthen RasithenPanneerTamilSupporting
Uyirile KalanthathuRaghuramanTamilSupporting
AzadDevaTeluguVillain
2001GrahanRaghu SinhaHindiSupporting
DosthRaghuTamilVillain
NarasimhaRaanaTamilSupporting
StarDhanushkodiTamilVillain
MajunuGajapathyTamilSupporting
2002Seema SimhamVisweswara RaoTeluguSupporting
RedSethupathyTamilSupporting
DhayaMajor RudhraiyaTamil125th Film

Supporting

Roja KootamIlango's fatherTamilSupporting
RunShiva's brother-in-lawTamilSupporting
UniversityTamilselvanTamilSupporting
BobbyK. R.TeluguSupporting
I Love You DaRajkishoreTamilVillain
BalaJeyamaniTamilSupporting
Kadhal VirusTamilSupporting
2003NaagaNaaga's fatherTeluguSupporting
JohnnyRavishankar DamleTeluguSupporting
AlaudinGangadharTamilSupporting
UllamTamilSupporting
Straight-to-DVD release
AlaiAathi's fatherTamilSupporting
AnjaneyaVenketeswaranTamilSupporting
ThirumalaiArtistTamilSupporting
Anbe Un VasamV. Rathinavel PandianTamilSupporting
Kaiyodu KaiManickavasagamTamilSupporting
2004JanaJana's fatherTamilSupporting
DurgiJaydevKannadaVillain
NaaniScientistTeluguSupporting
ArasatchiAshok MehtaTamilSupporting
JananamUdhaya MoorthyTamilSupporting
MassSatyaTeluguVillain
2005SacheinGowthamTamilSupporting
2006SivappathigaramElangoTamilSupporting
2007DeepavaliDr. DevasaghayamTamilGuest appearance /
Supporting
Evadaithe NakentiBal GangadharTeluguSupporting
Nalladhor VeenaiTamil150th Film /

Supporting

SivajiChezhianTamilSupporting
MarudhamalaiSuryanarayananTamilSupporting
2008BheemaPeriyavarTamilSupporting
AshokaTamilSupporting
ThodakkamVanchinathanTamilSupporting
Pellikani PrasadTeluguSupporting
Sila NerangalilKrishnanTamilVillain
AatadistaRaghunathTeluguSupporting
Yaaradi Nee MohiniVasu's fatherTamilSupporting
Ellam Avan SeyalJagadeeswaranTamilSupporting
2009BankRaghuvaranTeluguVillain
Adada Enna AzhaguHimselfTamilCameo appearance /
Supporting
2014PoojaiRathnaswamy, Vasu's fatherTamilCameo appearance /
photo role
2019Thipparaa MeesamMani's deceased fatherTelugu

References
  1. "Actor Raghuvaran passes away- Hindustan Times". Archived from the original on 12 December 2008.
  2. "Did you know Raghuvaran was a musician? Rajinikanth launches late actor's music album". The News Minute. 3 February 2018. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  3. http://cinidiary.com/people.php?pigsection=Actor&picata=1&no_of_displayed_rows=47&no_of_rows_page=10&sletter=%5B%5D
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Gulf Times article". Archived from the original on 24 March 2008.
  6. "Raghuvaran: a classy villain". 30 March 2008. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  7. "Farewell, Raghuvaran!". 24 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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